The Sinner and the Saint

Más información sobre el libro

In the summer of 1865, Dostoevsky found himself trapped in a cheap hotel in Wiesbaden, unable to leave until he settled his debts after losing his last money at the roulette table. With worsening epilepsy and the recent deaths of his wife and brother weighing on him, he felt desperate. From this turmoil emerged a story about the murderer Raskolnikov, the chaotic atmosphere of St. Petersburg, and the psychological torment following a terrible crime. This narrative became Crime and Punishment, which captivated readers upon its release. The Sinner and the Saint explores the creation of this literary masterpiece and the lives of two pivotal figures: Dostoevsky and Pierre Francois Lacenaire, a notorious murderer who captivated and shocked Paris in the 1830s. As news of Lacenaire's trial spread across Europe, it prompted questions about nihilism and its potential to drive individuals to commit murder. By examining how the lives of both men were influenced by the revolutionary ideas of the nineteenth century, this account reveals the enduring allure and horror of their stories, making it a thrilling exploration of a timeless literary work.